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Objectives

Lesson 3: Genetics

Why do families share similar generation in living things. As you
features like eye and hair color? can see there’s LOTS of
Why aren’t they exact clones of vocabulary—don’t be intimidated!
each other? These questions and Genetics is incredibly interesting,

many more will be answered as useful, and even, FUN!
well look into the fascinating world

of genetics!
Here are the key concepts:
Genetics is defined as “the science
1
of heredity , dealing with The Beginning of Genetics—Mendel
resemblances and differences of · Genetics is the science of
related organisms resulting from heredity.
the interactions of their genes and · Gregor Mendel, an Austrian
th
the environment”. That is to say, monk in the 19 century,
genetics asks which features are identified laws of inheritance
passed on from generation to by experimenting with peas.
generation in living things. · The law of segregation,

developed by Mendel, states
Genetics also tries to explain how
that each organism receives
those features are passed on (or
not passed on). Which features are two copies of each gene; one

stay and leave depend on the maternal copy, and one
2
genes of the organism and the paternal copy.
3
environment the organism lives · According to Mendel’s
observations, dominant traits
in.
are always expressed if
So, that’s the basic summary of
present, and recessive traits
Genetics. It’s the study of how
are only expressed if both
features move from generation to
copies of the gene are
recessive. Modern research
has reviled exceptions to
1
The transmission of (genetic) characteristics from
parents to offspring. those rules.
2
The codes found in the DNA to make protein. They
serve as the basic unit of heredity.
3
The external factors surrounding and affecting an
organism at any given time.

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